Christopher Nolan's epic Greek fantasy film The Odyssey is set to be one of 2026's major cinema events, but only three UK cinemas can screen it in the director's preferred format: IMAX 1570 film. The film, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and a supporting cast including Tom Holland, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, and Lupita Nyong'o, releases in UK cinemas on Friday, July 17.
Why only three cinemas?
Nolan has long championed IMAX 1570, the highest-resolution film format, named for its 70mm film width and 15 perforations per frame. The Odyssey is the first feature film shot entirely on 1570 cameras, which are heavy (180kg), loud, and require film stock changes every three minutes. Nolan worked with IMAX to develop a soundproofing 'blimp' to make the camera quiet enough for dialogue recording—a first for the format. However, most cinemas switched to digital around a decade ago, leaving only 41 venues worldwide capable of projecting 1570. Of those, just three are in the UK.
The three UK cinemas
BFI IMAX (London)
Located near Waterloo Station, the BFI IMAX boasts Britain's largest screen at 20m high and 26m wide, with a 500-seat capacity and a 14,000W digital surround sound system. It is designed for the most immersive experience possible.
Science Museum IMAX (London)
The Ronson Theatre at the Science Museum in South Kensington features a 24.3m-wide by 16.8m-high screen with a 1.43:1 aspect ratio, offering up to 40% more image than standard cinemas. It has 400 seats with modern comfort.
Manchester Printworks IMAX
Operated by Vue, this cinema has a screen measuring 26m wide by 19m high, making it the second-largest IMAX screen in the UK (just behind the BFI) and one of the largest in Europe. These venues retain working IMAX 1570 film projectors, allowing them to show rare high-resolution prints for select blockbusters.
Film details
The Odyssey follows Odysseus's perilous journey home after the Trojan War, encountering mythical beings like the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, and the nymph Calypso. The film was shot in Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, Western Sahara, Malta, and the Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles. Nolan, known for Inception, Oppenheimer, Dunkirk, and The Dark Knight trilogy, won Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars for Oppenheimer. Critics have met The Odyssey with largely positive reviews.
